Top Skills for Job Seekers: Analytical and Creative Thinking

Over the last few years, the labor market—both globally and domestically—has experienced a lot of upheaval. From dramatic rises in unemployment, major shifts in workplace environment and expectations, and over a third of Americans switching careers sometime during the first two years of the pandemic, much has changed.

Job seekers, of which there are currently an estimated 10.7 million in the US, have new priorities, and employers have had to adapt to attract top talent.

At the same time that concerns were shifting for workers, employers also started to re-evaluate what was most important to them when looking for new employees. We know that many job seekers today want things like flexible work schedules and more vacation time, but what do employers want?

The answer is analytical and creative thinking skills.

These are the top skills employers are looking for, according to a detailed report on the future of jobs. The report summarizes the top skills for 2023 and outlines what employers are looking for now, and what they may be looking for in the future.

The Top Ten

Before we look closer at the two most desired skills, here’s the list of top ten skills according to the report:

1. Analytical Thinking
2. Creative Thinking
3. Resilience, flexibility, and agility
4. Motivation and Self Awareness
5. Curiosity and Lifelong Learning
6. Technological Literacy
7. Dependability and Attention to Detail
8. Empathy and Active Listening
9. Leadership and Social Influence
10. Quality Control

As you may have noticed, there is only one skill listed that is definitely a top hard skill versus a top soft skill, and that’s technological literacy. This is just something job seekers should keep in mind when they are getting ready to apply—soft skills are top skills for resumes.

Analytical Thinking

Analytical thinking is number one on the list of top skills employers look for because companies listed it most often as a core skill. This means it's non-negotiable. Employees must be able to think analytically in order to be competitive in the current job market.

Characterized by academics as the ability to “identify and define problems, extract key information from data and develop workable solutions for the problems identified,” analytical thinking is really just another way of saying ‘problem solver’. And it’s no wonder this skill has grown in popularity over the last few years.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruptions to global workforces. The companies that weren’t able to quickly adapt, solve novel problems, and circumnavigate unexpected hurdles often went under. Looking to the future, it makes sense that employers want to build strong workforces composed of individuals who aren’t afraid of change and who can rise to the occasion when presented with new challenges.

Creative Thinking

The second skill reported on the list of top skills for 2023 and beyond was creative thinking. Compared to previous surveys, “creative thinking is increasing in importance relative to analytical thinking as workplace tasks become increasingly automated.” (World Economic Forum)

As opposed to analytical thinking, which relies on given facts and information to search for the most logical solution to a problem, creative thinking is more—well—creative. Those who possess this skill will be able to use established data as a jumping-off point in pursuit of out-of-the-box solutions.

Whereas you might need analytical thinking to solve a tricky math problem, creative thinkers are the ones solving riddles.

Candidates who possess both skill sets and can use them in tandem with one another will be considered some of the most sought-after workers over the next few years.

In Conclusion

All this information may seem very straightforward. Talent scouts and job seekers alike may be looking at this list and thinking “Aha, now I know what to do!” Employers will search for resumes that include these top job skills and qualified candidates will ensure that their most sought-after talents are highlighted appropriately… Right?

Not exactly.

It’s estimated that over 70% of candidates lie on their resumes. Because of this, it can be difficult for employers to sift through the half-truths and find a truly qualified employee. On the flip side, the trend of lying on resumes also makes it difficult for job seekers who truly possess these top skills to stand out in a sea of similarly impressive resumes.

But no matter which side of the equation you’re on, CyberCoders has the tools to help you! With our unrivaled recruiting technology and devotion to finding everyone their true career match, we fill open positions with top talent in a fraction of the time. Click here to learn more!